Week 22
I hope you had a lovely half term break. It is good to be back with our fantastic community in this busy half term. Now that I have truly settled in (it feels like I have been here much longer than half a term!), I will start to share with you our priorities as we move forward. During the summer term, we will be focussing on high standards with particular regard to punctuality, uniform and routines around the academy. I will send further information about this later in the term. In the meantime, we continue to work hard to provide a wide range of opportunities for our students and here are this week’s highlights.
Year 8 National Space Centre trips
Our Year 8 students recently visited the National Space Centre in Leicester, exploring the interactive exhibits and taking part in two immersive activities designed to deepen their understanding of real-world science and technology. In the Our Earth Under Threat workshop, students worked in groups to analyse data, identify a near-Earth object, and determine whether it posed a collision risk. With their calculations revealing a potential impact, students collaborated to discuss and propose a suitable response strategy. Students also enjoyed a session in the UK’s largest planetarium learning about life as an astronaut, including what it is like to live and work in space and how space environments affect the human body. It was a fantastic and inspiring day for everyone involved.
House Fundraising News
During the 2024/2025 school year, our House Champions and students showed outstanding commitment to fundraising for our house charities: Willen Hospice, Harry’s Rainbow, Unity MK, and Mind BLMK. Thanks to a series of successful events, each charity received £291.34, reflecting the generosity and teamwork of our school community.
Following a vote by the Leyh House Council, we are delighted to share that The Hygiene Bank MK has been chosen as the new Leyh house charity. The organisation supports individuals facing poverty by providing essential personal care and laundry products, and we are proud to be partnering with them.
This half term, students raised an impressive £330 for Harry’s Rainbow through the sale of rainbow lolly cards — a fantastic achievement by our House Champions and the wider Watling Academy community.
We look forward to bringing even more exciting events and fundraising opportunities to our students and families in the months ahead.
Year 12 Sports Leaders
At the end of last term, our Year 12 Sports Leaders stepped up to lead the Year 3 and 4 Swimming Gala for the Milton Keynes School Sport Partnership. They represented Watling brilliantly and proved to be a real asset to both the school and the event. Their responsibilities included organising and timing races, and guiding and encouraging the participating primary schools throughout the competition. The gala was a great success, and we are incredibly proud of all the students involved.
Friends of Watling Academy
A huge thank you to the Friends of Watling Academy for another sell-out doughnut sale and to all those who supported the event. Together we raised over £500 which will be invested back into the school to benefit our students and school community. Tickets are now on sale for FoWA’s next event – a Quiz & Pizza Night on Tuesday 24th March – please check ParenMail for more information!
Reminders
Year 11 form & year group photos
Year 11 students will have their form and year group photos taken on Friday 6th March. I would ask for your support to ensure that, as every day, they come to school in full, correct uniform.
Mrs Anderson
Headteacher
Sports Results
- Tuesday 24th February –
- Year 8 Girls Football Vs Radcliffe WON 4-1
- Year 10 Girls Football Vs Radcliffe WON 4-1
- Year 11 Girls Football Vs Radcliffe LOST 4-2
- Year 7 Basketball Vs Hazeley LOST 8-22
- Year 8 Basketball Vs Hazeley LOST 39-16
- Wednesday 25th February –
- Year 11 Girls MK Schools Netball Tournaments – Came 5th
- Year 7 Girls Football Vs MK Academy WON 8-1
- Thursday 26th February –
- Year 8 Basketball v Shenley Brook End – LOST 42-15
- Year 9 Basketball v Shenley Brook End – LOST 51-14
- Year 10 Basketball v Lord Grey – WON – 42-39
- Year 8 Boys Football v Walton High – LOST 3-2
What’s happening next week?
- Monday 2nd March – Week A
- Watling Book Week all week
- Year 8 Careers Workshop
- Year 9 & 10 Progress Week
- Thursday 5th March –
- World Book Day
- Year 11 Shared Learning Evening
- Friday 6th March –
- Year 11 Form & Year Group Photos
Sports Fixtures
- Tuesday 3rd March –
- MK Schools Cross-Country at Campbell Park
- Year 9 Boys Football Vs Lord Grey AWAY
- Wednesday 4th March –
- Year 10 Basketball Vs Hazeley HOME
- Year 10 Netball Cup & Plate Tournaments HOME
- U14 & U16 Boys Badminton Vs Radcliffe AWAY
- Thursday 5th March –
- Year 7, U14 & U16 Girls Badminton Vs The Webber Independent School AWAY
- Year 7 Boys Football Vs Glebe Farm HOME
- Year 8 Boys Football Vs Glebe Farm AWAY
- Friday 6th March –
- U16 Girls County Cup Football Vs Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School
